Griffey Weighs Offer From Japan

Notebook

KEN GRIFFEY Jr. has been offered $12 million to play one season for an undisclosed Japanese team and endorse the sponsoring company's products, according to the Seattle center fielder's agent.

Griffey's contract expires in 1997, and both sides are working on a contract extension. Griffey hopes to stay in Seattle, where the Mariners are making their first bid for postseason play, said attorney Brian Goldberg.

''He's been treated like a king out there by current and past ownership and by the front office and by the fans,'' Goldberg said Monday from his Cincinnati office.

The company, which Goldberg would not name, was talking with Griffey about endorsements when one of its officials raised the issue of a playing contract - ''just to let you know we can expand on that'' endorsement offer, the agent said.

The package would be ''to play ball and to do some endorsements,'' Goldberg said, noting the proposal ''is not something we pursued. It came to us.''

Mariners' spokesman David Aust said he knew nothing of the offer.

The Mariners are partly owned by Kyoto-based Nintendo, which has named a computer game after Griffey. And Griffey's Nike endorsement contract may take him to Japan on a goodwill tour early next year.

King County voters will decide today whether to increase the sales tax to help finance a retractable-roof stadium for the team.

BRIEFLY . . .

KELLY GRUBER, a two-time All-Star third baseman who was waived by the California Angels in 1993, underwent a five-hour operation late last month in Los Angeles to repair disks and vertebrae in his neck. Gruber, 31, who first experienced neck problems early in the 1992 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, is expected to undergo rehabilitation for six months. He said he will consider playing again if it goes well. . . . The Montreal Expos put pitcher Hector Fajardo on the disqualified list and called up pitcher J.J. Thobe (5-6, 3.27 ERA, five saves) from Class AAA Ottawa. Fajardo, 24, was called up from Ottawa, but refused to report, the Expos said. . . . Barring further injury to his left knee, Atlanta Braves shortstop Jeff Blauser will be in the starting lineup the remainder of the regular season in preparation for the playoffs. Blauser has missed 24 games since Aug. 5 because of the injury.